354 THE KING’S BUSINESS Peter Delivered from Prison APR IL 30, 1916. LESSON V. Acts 12:1-11. (Commit v. 11.) G o l d e n T e x t :
t “ The angel o f the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.”—Ps. 34:7.
DA ILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., April 24—Acts 12:1-11. (The Lesson).
Tues., April 25—Acts 12:12-19. Wed., April 26—Matt. 18:15-20. Thurs., April 27—Psalm 34:1-11. Fri., April 28-D an . 6:10-17. Sat., April 29—Dan. 6:18-23. Sun., April 30—Psalm 91.
EXPOSIT ION AND PRACTICAL' APPLICATIONS
vs., 1, 2. “Now about that-time, Herod the Kinf) stretched {put) forth his hands to vex {afflict ) certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.” There had been a lull in the persecution o f the church (ch. 9:31), but it had proved only temporary- No lull in the persecution o f the' church will be per manent until the Lord Himself comes. In this case, when the persecution began again it began with great fierceness: James, one o f the first Apostles called, and one of those nearest to the Lord, was killed. The James that appears prominently in the story o f the early church after this, was, o f course, not James the brother o f John, (add, that) it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further (omit, further ), to take {seize) Peter also. Then (And those) were the days of unleav ened bread. And when he had apprehended {taken) him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quarternions of sol diers to keep {guard) him, intending after Easter {the Passover) to bring him forth to the people.” James had been killed and now Peter is arrested in order that he may be killed. The actual slaying o f Peter was postponed because o f the Jewish holy week; and while the Jews were perfectly willing to kill a good man, they were not willing to defile their feast days. They were like many today who care more for but James the brother o f Jesus. vs. 3; 4. “And when he saw
days and ceremonies than they do for a just and right treatment .of their fellow- men. Peter indeed seemed to be in a per ilous position, indeed in a hopeless posi tion, securely locked and chained in a Roman'prison, guarded by sixteen soldiers, bound by each wrist to a soldier, Peter’s enemies seem to have calculated wisely and their plans seem to be sure o f successful execution. But they had left one factor out o f their calculations, and th^t one fac tor was the all-important factor—God. There is nothing too hard for the Lord, and there is nothing too hard for the church that links itself on to~God by prayer. It is now the very last night. v. 5. "Peter therefore was kept in (add, the) prison, but prayer was made without ceasing {earnestly) of the church unto God for him.” The church seemed help less in their desire to get Peter out o f his predicament. What could they do? They might have attempted to have stormed the prison, but that would have proven o f no avail; they might have gotten up a petition and besought Herod to release Peter, they doubtless could have got many names to their petition, but it is doubtful if the petition would have succeeded; they might have gone around and taken up a collection and bribed Herod to let Peter g o ; that might have proved effective for Herod was open to that mode o f approach- ment. But there-was one thing that they'
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